Vibrating shelf-type drier



Feb. 22, 1955 P. R. PERKINS 2,702,436

VIBRATING SHELF TYPE DRIER Filed Jan. 2. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT'OR.

fzez/suw BY mu vwm win/c 251 Feb. 22, 1955 P. R. PERKINS VIBRATING SHELF TYPE DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2. 1951 United States Patent Ofiice 2,702,436 Patented Feb. 22, 1955 VIBRATING SHELF-TYPE DRIER Philip R. Perkins, Skokie, Ill.

Application January 2, 1951, Serial No. 203,989

4 Claims. (Cl. 34--164) The invention relates to apparatus for lowering or removing excess moisture from grain, or the like, Which will .aid in preserving the natural qualities sufficiently to prevent spoilage in storage, and thereby enhance its nutritive and marketable values; but relates more particularly to apparatus of this character for commingling ,heated .gases and fair with the grain to be processed thereby, and has forits objects the provision of an apparatus of this character which will be simple in construction, economical 'to manufacture, and highly efiicient in use. i 1

Other objects will her inaf r appe r- Th invention g'jonsistg in the combinations, and arrangements of part he inafter described and claimed.

Th invention will b best understood by reference to the accompanying drawi g forming a P of this specification and in which-- Figure 1 is a front view f apparatus embodying the invention as arranged for u Figure 2 is a side view Figure Figure 3 is a section tak n n l Of Figure gigure 4 is a section tak on line of Figure an Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

A practical embodi nt of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and comprisesa rectangular cabinet body 10 mounted on a uit lile base 11. The base 11 is provided on its botto with downwardly projecting axle bearings 12 adapted t carry horizontal axle shafts 14 in transverse and spaced alignment, .each axle shaft extending outwardly beyon-jd the cabinet side Walls 16 and 17 and the base 117 Each end of the shafts 14 is equipped with wheels 18 for movably supjporting the cabinet body '10. The front end of the base 111 is equipped with a forwardly extending eye bolt 19 to); which suitable draft means may be attached for. rn'ov'ing the apparatus from place to place.

The.- rear wall 20 of the cabinet body 10, best shown an Fig. l, is provided with a centrally placed rectangular anchor plate 21 having a central opening 22, the anchor plate 21 being secured to the rear wall 20 by suitable cap screws 23, and serves as a mounting base for an oil burner 24. The oil burner 24 is provided with outwardly and forwardly projecting arms 25 which are secured to the anchor plate 21 by threaded studs 25a and an exhaust nozzle 26 centrally arranged therewith. By this arrangement the nozzle 26 is positioned within the opening 22 which communicates with a heat compartment 27. When the oil burner 24 is in operation exhaust gases and air are blown through the opening 22 and discharged within the heat compartment 27 centrally and horizontally arranged, situated immediately within the rearward bottom portion of the cabinet body 10 The heat compartment 27 is constructed of a fire and heat resisting argiliaceous material and comprises an elongated cylindrical body 28 closed at its forward end by a wall 29 and provided with horizontally extending cylindrical lateral branches 30, one on each side of the body 28 just rearwardly of the end wall 29. Each of the lateral branches 30 communicates with one of the air compartments 31 adjacent the heat compartment body 28 at the 'bottom of the cabinet body 10.

The rear wall 20 of the cabinet body 10 is provided with a rectangular opening on each side of the anchor plate '21 and adjustably closed by a plurality of rockable louvres 32 mounted in a frame 33, each group being connected to a control rod 34. Each of the air spaces 31 is further provided with rectangular openings on the same plane adjacent the juncture of the front wall 15 in side walls 16 and 17, respectively, which are similarly equipped with frame 33, louvers 32, and control rod 34. By this arrangement louver-controlled openings in the walls 20, 16 and 17 may be used to avail an operator of the apparatus to take advantage of wind or other air currents which may be 'present--or to admix fresh air in the compartment 31.

The upper portion of the cabinet body 10 comprises a drying chamber 35 which is provided with conveyor means for gravitationally passing grain in process down and through heated and properly tempered air which has been thoroughly mixed with a limited quantity of exhaust gases from the oil burner 24.

Grain is introduced into the cabinet body 10 through the doorway 36 closed by the trap door 36a which is hinged to the top wall 37 by hinges 38. The trap door 36a is provided with a loop handle 39 for convenience in opening and closing. It is desirable that a continuous flow of grain be maintained so that cool air entering when the trap door 36 is open will serve to further temper the air in the drying compartments 35, as will be readily understood.

The conveyor means in the drying compartment 35 comprises a plurality of inclined chutes 40 having side rails 41 extending substantially from side wall 16 to side 'wall 17, as best shown in Fig. 3. Each side rail 41 is pivoted at its upper end to its adjacent corner post 42 by a suitable bolt 43, the lower end of each side rail 41 being provided with hinge hooks 44 pivotally attached thereto by a suitable bolt 45 passed through an eye 45a; by this arrangement the degree of inclination may be varied one from another, or all arranged at .the same pitch, as desired. Each adjacent corner post 42 is provided with a fixed pin 46 adapted to engage any one of the notches 47 in its adjacent book 44.

The side rails 41 carry a partial floor 48 .of metal cloth 49, of suitable adapted mesh, extending downwardly to a ledge 46a ad acent the lowermost end of the chute 40. By this arrangement the grain being processed will he cascaded through the heated air onto the chute 40 next below. The bottommost chute 40 is provided with a metal cloth floor which extends the full length of the side rails 41 to point of discharge from the cabinet body 10 through the doorway 50 in the front wall 15. The doorway 50 is provided with a hinged door 51'having a handle 52.

Means for vibrating the chutes 40 comprise a magnetic vibrator 53 mounted on the top wall .37 of the cabinet body 10 and connected to a vertical shaft 54 which, in turn, is connected to each of the chutes 40 by means of an inverted U-shaped frame 54a, the depending arms 55 thereof connected to the side rails 41 by suitable rivets 56 intermediate their ends, the rivets being seated in slots 57. The vibrator 53 is provided with a rectangular base 63 mounted over an opening 62 and supported on spaced horizontal straps 71 which extend from side wall 16 to side wall 17 substantially at the top thereof and serve to limit vibrations passing to the top wall 37. The vibrator shaft 54 is threaded to adjustably receive a nut 64. By this arrangement the depending arms 55 can be raised or lowered to accommodate a changed position of the chutes 40 to equalize suitable vibrations from the vibrator 53. The rectangular base 63 and the vibrator 53 is attached to the top wall by suitable cap screws 65, best shown in Fig. 2. The cabinet body 10 is provided with hinged doors 58 in the rear wall 20, equipped with latch bar 59 and keeper 60,; and hinged doors 58 in the wall 15 are also equipped with latch bar 59 and keeper 60. The doors 58 serve to give access to the vibrating chutes 40. When in proper adjustment, the vibration of the chutes 40 serve to keep the grain in motion so as to expose all surfaces of the kernels to the heated air and gases which ascend through the meshes of the metal cloth 49 and over the top of grain on the chutes 40.

The cabinet body 10 is also provided in the top wall 37 with an exhaust opening communicating with the drying compartment 35 positioned forwardly of the vibrator 53 and over which is mounted an elbow 66 secured to an external collar 66a at its lower end connected to an electrically operated exhaust blower 67 at its other end by motor 68. Arranged at the juncture of the elbow 66 and the blower 67 a slidable damper 69 serves as manual control means for regulating the flow of air from the drying compartment 35. The discharge opening of the blower 67 is adapted to be connected to suitable sheet iron pipe of conventional form whereby heated air and gases may be conducted to a suitable distant place, if desired.

Mounted inwardly and forwardly of the doorway 36a, best shown in Fig. 3, is a vertically aligned bathe 72 having a rearwardly projecting flange 73 at each end provided with slotted holes 73 adjustably secured by screws 76 to opposite side walls 16 and 17. This bathe 72 when properly set serves to level the incoming material and thereby limit the quantity of material flowing onto the chutes 40. The baffle 72 is arranged in parallel relation with the rear wall 20 and at right angles to the side walls 16 and 17 forming a hopper. By this arrangement material having a high percentage of moisture can be carried through the cabinet body in a relatively small stream in proportion to the absorbtive quality of the column of heated air and gas in use.

The drying compartment 35 is divided into a plurality of sloping but substantially horizontal zones, one for each of the inclined chutes 40, comprising a top zone 80,, an intermediate zone 81 and a bottom zone 82. Material to be processed is received in the top zone 80 through the doorway 36, best shown in Fig. 3, supported on the metal cloth 49 and flows to the right by gravity, activated partially by impulses imparted thereto by the magnetic vibrator 53, and cascades over the lower edge 46a of the metal cloth 49 onto the metal cloth 49 of the intermediate zone, where the material flows to the left to the lower edge 46a, where it cascades into the bottom zone 82 onto the metal cloth 49 and fiows to the right through the doorway 50, having traveled a zigzag path from the upper rear corner of the cabinet body 10 to a lower forward position where the material will pass from the cabinet body 10 through the doorway 50 into such receptacles as may be found convenient for the purpose.

It is obvious that the inclined chutes 40 may be varied as to pitch either singly or collectively, as desired, and in so doing retard the flow of material in one zone and accelerate the flow in another zone. The electrica1lyoperated blower 67, best shown in Fig. 1, discharges the combined air and exhaust gas carrying moisture absorbed, the quantity of moisture content removed being determined by the time element of exposure, as will be readily understood.

The inclination of the chutes 40 within the drying compartment 35, especially when the metal cloth 49 is covered by grain in process, serves to pocket the heated air and gases at the uppermost and under portion of the chutes 40, as shown in Fig. 3, in the upper left-hand corner in zone 80 of the drying compartment 35 where the moist grain enters through the doorway 36. It is also to be noted that the coolest part of the cabinet 10 is adjacent the discharge doorway 50 where outside air is drawn over the top of the material being discharged from the bottom zone 82. Should it be desired, the louvres 32 mounted in the frame 33, opening in the bottom of the heat chamber 27, can be used to admit outside air on the underside of bottommost chute 40 for cooling the grain as discharged.

The dryer is provided with safety features such as the elbow 66, which is adapted to be attached to one or more sections of conventional jointed pipe 75 for conveying exhaust gases discharged by the blower 67. By this means the discharged gases may be conducted a sufficient distance away so as to avoid return to the drying chamber 35.

Another safety measure is provided by the conventional themocouple 79, best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, protruding through the side wall 16 into the air space 31, and held by the collar 77, the outwardly extending wire 78 may be connected to suitable electrical apparatus mounted in the junction box 74 for the control temperature of heated gases entering the cabinet body 10.

The structure shown and process described are simple and effective ones for the purpose and by the adoption of devious methods of operation, by varying the temperature and rate of movement of the grain within the zones of the drying chamber 35, various sizes and moisture contents may be readily dehydrated.

The method of dehydrating of grain or other materials is under manual control and takes place in the drying compartment 35, located in the upper part of the cabinet 10, extending from the intake doorway 36 in the rear corner down to the discharge doorway in the front wall 15. This compartment is divided into three zones, viz.; top zone 80; intermediate zone 81; and bottom zone 82; the zones being separated by chutes 40 which are adjustable one from the other comprising side rails 41 hingedly suspended in pairs from hooks mounted on corner posts 42 and are alternately arranged in angular or zigzag relation from top to bottom.

Each pair of side rails is equipped with metal cloth bottoms 49 over which material flows activated by gravity imparted by minute vibrations from the intake doorway 36 down to the discharge doorway 50. Each of the bottoms 49 of the chutes 40 in the zones 80 and 81 are provided with a ledge 46a forming spillways 76 over which the flowing material cascades onto the chute 40 next below. It is here to be noted that by varying the slope of one chute 40 the material being dehydrated may be made to move slower on one or more of the chutes 40, thereby prolonging or accelerating the timeof travel. It is to be understood that some materials form a coating which will prevent the escape of moisture.

The bottom 49 of the chute 40 in the bottom zone 82 ends at the discharge doorway 50, through which cool fresh air is admitted to be dr w through the drying compartment 35 y h st blower 67. The chutes 40 have their side rails 41 gh n ted to the arms of n inv r U- p fr m {suspended from the shaft 54 of the magnetic vibrator which serves to agitate the flowing material in the p fisence of the heated air and gasses passing through the drying chamber 35 and to secure even contact therewitrh, In operation, the down- Wafdly flOWing material 011 the vibrating chutes 40 and the upward flow 0f throllgyh the tortuous passageways create Eddies E aiding convection. Temperatures in the y g Compartment can vary greatly but it is desir us that the 201168 he p arated substantially as follows: in top zone 80 and blow 67-150 Fahr.; interr p egi Zone hn; nd bottom zone 82300 1'. t The foregoing description sets f rth a paratus which can be adapted in use to either batch drying or to a relatively continuous operation, as will be readily understood. The hopper formed by th baffle 72 (Fig. 3) within the drying compartment 35 is vertically adjustable serving to limit the amount of grain passing onto the chutes 40. Once the flow of grain is sstarted the heated air and gases are drawn upwardly through and over the stream of grain being agitated by vibratioins coming from the vibrator 53 while under gravitational nrcovement on the adjustably inclined chute 40.

The flow of air from the drying chamber 35 can tic,- regulated by the damper 69. A junction box 74 is adapted to hold the necessary conventional controls, to the magnetic vibrator 53, the exhaust blower 67 and to the thermalcouple (not shown) carried in the collar 77, Fig. 2

While I have illustrated and described practical means and methods for carrying my invention into use, this is capable of variations, modifications and alterations of parts and methods without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise arrangement of parts and the methods of their operation, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination a dryer for fluent solid materials comprising a vehicle having a rectangular cabinet body; a chamber in the bottom portion of said body; a heat generating unit arranged and adapted to discharge hot gases into said chamber; a cool air compartment horizontally adjacent to and in communication with said said chamber; mechanical control means for the admission of atmospheric air into said cool air compartment; a drying chamber comprising the upper portion of said cabinet in communication with said horizontal air comcabinet in communication with said drying chamber;

an intake doorway in the upper rear portion of said cabinet; a discharge doorway arranged downwardly and forwardly of said intake doorway in communication with said drying chamber; and a plurality of inclined chute means suspended within said drying chamber for slidably conveying material from said intake doorway to said discharge doorway, whereby the fluent material travels in a generally counter-current direction with respect to the flow of said hot gas.

2. A dryer for fluent solid materials comprising in combination a cabinet body, a first chamber in a, bottom portion of said body, a hot gas generator within said first chamber and adapted to discharge hot gases thereinto, a relatively cool air compartment substantially enclosing said generator and in communication with said chamber, control means for admission of atmospheric air at ambient temperature into said cool air compartment for co-mingling with said hot gas, a drying chamber in an upper portion of said cabinet body in communication with said cool air compartment, an exhaust blower arranged in communication with an upper portion of said drying chamber, a solid materials intake doorway in said upper portion of said cabinet, a discharge doorway in a lower portion of said drying chamber, said doorway being arranged downwardly and forwardly of said intake doorway, a plurality of inclined chute means suspended within said drying chamber between said intake doorway and said discharge doorway for slidably conveying fluent solid materials therebetween, a -movable frame suspending said inclined chutes, a magnetic vibrator mounted on said cabinet body, and an adjustable means connecting said frame to said vibrator to agitate the fluent solid materials passing over saidinclined suspended chute means, whereby the fluent solid materials travel in a generally countercurrent direction withrespect to the flow of commingled air and hot gas. r

3. The dryer 30f claim 2 which includes at least three inclined chutes, each of said chutes, with the exception of the bottom chute, having a port at the lower end thereof discharging onto the chute next below.

4. A dryer for fluent solid materials comprising in combination a vertically elongated cabinet body, a first chamber in a bottom portion of said body, a hot gas generator discharging hot gases into said first chamber, a cool air compartment substantially enclosing said first chamber, control means for admitting atmospheric air into said cool air compartment, a drying chamber in an upper portion of said cabinet body in communication with said cool air compartment, an exhaust blower arranged in communication with an upper portion of said drying chamber, a plurality of inclined chutes suspended within said drying chamber for conveying fluent solid materials through the drying chamber, each of said chutes, with the exception of the bottom chute, having a port at the lower end thereof discharging onto the chute next below, a solid materials intake doorway in said upper portion of said cabinet in communication with the topmost chute, a depending flow control baflle arranged adjacent said intake doorway to limit the depth of solids on the topmost chute, a discharge doorway arranged at the lower end of the bottom-most chute, an inverted U-shaped frame means engaging each of said chutes at a point intermediate the ends thereof, a vibrator means mounted on said cabinet, and an adjustable means connecting said vibrator means to said frame means, whereby the chutes are vibrated and fluent solid materials cascade from chute to chute and travel in a generally counter-current direction with respect to the flow of said gases and air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,628 OToole June 16, 1936 2,066,251 Clemens Dec. 29, 1936 2,100,150 Randolph Nov. 23, 1937 2,474,952 Miskella July 5, 1949 2,497,703 Todd Feb. 14, 1950 2,535,109 Wigton Dec. 26, 1950 2,561,925 Jakubik July 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 570,846 Great Britain July 25, 1945 

